Tractor mower hitch



Dec. l2, 1950 R. B. l-nTcHcocK TRACTOR MowER BITCH vs sheets-sheet 1 Filed sept. 11, 1944 Dec. l2, 1950 R. B. HITCHCOCK TRACTOR MOWER HITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. ll, 1944 Dec. 12, 1950 R, B, HITCHCOCK 2,533,804

- TRACTOR MowER HITCH Filed Sept. l1, 1944 5 Sheets-Shea?l 5 Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED TRACTOR MOWER HITCH Rex B. Hitchcock, Evanston, Ill., assigner to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application September 11, 1944, Serial No. 553,582

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved tractor mower and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means for quickly and easily attaching a mower to a tractor.

An important object of this invention is to provide hoisting means on a mower adapted to cooperate with a Xed part of a tractorand thereupon be capable of raising the mower to operating position.

Another important object is the provision of a novel mower frame on which are supplied cammed hooks capable of cooperating with projections on a tractor, thereupon lifting the mower and its frame to a proper operating position with respect to the tractor, and further means for rigidly holding the mower in its operating position.

A still further important object is to provide a manually rotatable element on a mower which is capable or raising and locking the mower in position on a tractor.

Other and further important objects of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tractor mower of this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective detail of the mower frame of this invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional View of the tractor mower in position prior to mounting on the tractor;

Figures l and 5 are successive views similar to Figure 3, showing in detail the lowered uncoupled and raised coupled or mounted positions of the mower relative to the tractor;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line fi-5 of Figure 5; and

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'l of Figure 3.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral IB indicates generally a tractor especially adapted for agricultural use and capable of having implements mounted thereon for cultivating and harvesting or the like. The tractor i9 consists of an engine Il, a chassis l2, forwardly mounted dirigible wheels i 3, and a pair of relatively widely spaced rear traction wheels Hl. The wheels Ell are mounted on depending axle housings i supported by a transverse housn ing It, which carries the drive from the engine to the wheels ill through the customary transmission and differential.

Agricultural tractors of the modern type are equipped with several forms of power takeeofi devices. One of these power take-off devices is in the form of a wide belt pulley il. This wide belt pulley is generally used for driving stationary machines, such as feed grinders or stationary threshers or the like. A second power take-01T device is a V-belt pulley i8 which in this case is utilized to drive the mower sickle. A third power takesoff device is an arcuately shiftable rock-arm l5 positioned at the side of the engine Il. This is customarily a hydraulically operated arm, and as shown in Figure 1 a hand lever 2Q is capable of effecting desired movement of the arm IS through the medium of suitable valves and pumps, not shown. The rock arm i9 is generally duplicated on both sides of the tractor engine, and these arms are usually operable separably as indicated by the second hand lever 2i. Many uses for these power-operated rock-arms are found in the effective adaptation of agricultural implements to tractors. They are used to raise and lower cultivating implements, and in the present case one of these arms is used te effect a raising or a lowering of the mower cutter-bar, as disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,5i7,38l, August 1, 1950, to Bernard E. Brown, assigned to the present assignee.

The mower main frame structure, as best shown in Figure 2, includes a pair of spaced longitudinal beams 22 and 23. These beams 22 and are joined by a transverse beam 2d and reinforcing members 25 and 25. Each of the longitudinal beams has upwardly extending brackets 2l and 28 respectively. The forward ends of these brackets 2l and 28 are equipped with wide-mouthed notches 2S, 3i?, tl, and 32. A rodlil;e cross-.shaft 33 extends between the brackets 2i and it and is journally mounted in suitably alined apertures in these brackets. A U-shaped bail member is welded or otherwise fastened to the rod 33 and is capable of rotation with the rod. Hook members 35 and 36 are i'iXedly attached for rotation with the rod-like shaft 33 and are placed closely adjacent the inner faces of the brackets 2'1 and 2B respectively. Mounted at the .forward ends of the longitudinal beams 22 and 23 are brackets 31 and 38 which are equipped with notches 3d and lill respectively.

The mower itself includes a cutter-bar a shoe 42 about which the cutter-bar lll hinges, and an auxiliary frame 43 which supports the cutter-bar and shoe 4! and 42. The auxiliary frame 43 consists of an L-shaped tubular member 44, which is hinged for vertical movement about a horizontal axis within a housing 15, and a flat plate-like crossmember fili which is hinged for horizontal movement about a vertical axis through a hinge member ill'. The plate member 48, as shown in Figure l, normally rests directly on the transverse beam of the main mower frame. The vertical hinge member il is adapted to extend through the aperture 53, shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, in one end of the crossbeam 2li. r"he other end oi the beam it has a guide member l associated therewith so that rearward swinging of the plate it horizontally will be readily permitted an-d a return swinging of the plate de to its normal position may be easily accomplished through the medium oi the guide ile. The housing is mounted directly above the hinge ffl and is movable with the plate 46.

A cable 5i? is attached to the shiitable end of the rock-arm it at El and at its other end is fastened to an upwardly extending lever arm 52 at 53. The lever 52 is iixedly attached to a crossshaft 5d which is iournaled in a bearing 55 which in turn is mounted upon an upward extension 56 of the transverse plate member li. The cross--V shaft ell is further journaled in a bracket 5l.

The bracket El includes a lower bearing portion 57a and an upper bearing portion 57h, the latter o-f which journals the shaft that carries the J -belt pulley i8. The function of the bearing 5in will appear later in connection with the description of the drive for the mower. A lever arm e 53 is mounted on the far end of the cross-shaft 54 and is preferably welded thereto as shown at Rotational movement of the lever arm 52 causes simultaneous rotation of the shaft 54 and thus also the lever arm 58. The cable Eil passes beneath the axle housing l5, and by means of a pulley @9 mounted on a bracket 6l beneath the tractor is capable of effecting a smooth uninterrupted pulling action between the power lift arm le and the lever arm 52 on the auxiliary mower frame 43.

As the lever arm 58 is raised byV operation of the power lift arm i9, the cutter-bar ll is raised about the hinge 5,2 within the shoe 42. This is accomplished by means of a cradle-like lever 63 which is centrally pivoted at 6G on brackets E55 forming part of the shoe d2. A link 6G joins the arm 53 with the cradle lever 63 at 67, and an upward movement of the arm 58 causes a similar upward movement of the end 68 of the cradle lever 5:13 and a downward movement of the end Se of the cradle lever e3. A curved arm lil rigidly mounted with respect to the cutter-bar Il! and mounted directly on the hinge 62 is joined by its innermost extension at 'il to the end E9 of the cradle lever $3 through the medium of a link l2. Continued movement of the power lift arm 59 will effect a maximum raising of the cutter-bar il to a position where it is approximately at an angle of with respect to the ground. This limit is determined by the end @5B of the cradle lever 53 striking a raised portion 'i3 on the shoe d2 thereby prohibiting further upward movement of the cutter-bar il separately from the auxiliary frame (i3. Further movement of the power lift arm il) in the same direction will now effect vertical movement of the L-shaped beam the cutter-bar t! as a unit about a hinge ifi on a horizontal axis within the housing' lili. The structure in this respect may be similar to that shown in the United States Patent to Crumb 1,977,429. A counter-balancing spring i5 is extended between the shoe t2 of lthe mower and an upwardly extending bracket 76 from the ,El (Figures 3, 4 and 5).

housing 155. The spring 'l5 assists in the lifting of the mower. f

The'pulley i8, by means of a V-belt Tl, is

adapted to drive a fly-wheel '8 on which is` mechanism as it swings rearwardly when released.

The construction may be like that shown in the United States patent to MacDonald 2,269,980. rlhe mower cutter-bar il includes a sickle 8i which is reciprocated by the pitman Sil.

In operating the tractor mower through elds or the like, it is possible that the cutter bar will meet some obstruction which would tend to cause damage to the entire mower if there were not some safety release means. As previously stated, the mower and auxiliary frame are capable of swinging horizontally rearwardly about the vertical hinge 'l'i. The shoe or yoke portion 42 of the mower includes a forward apertured projection S2 which is hooked to an extensible safety release mechanism S3. This device V83 is best shown in Figure 2 and includes a slidable member @Il having a hook portion 85 which extends through the aperture in the projection S2 on the mower. A second relatively stationary arm 86 lies closely adjacent the slidable arm 84 and is equipped with brackets 3l and 8l which form a guide for the slidable arm 86. This slidable arm has an outward projection 88 at its end having an inclined surface at its rearward end which is engaged by a hook portion 89 of a springeheld latch or the like 96. The latch member 9D is bolted to the stationary arm 8@ by means of a bolt 9! and includes a spring 92 which permits relative movement between the latch 90 and the arm 85. The inner surface of the hook 86 has an angular surface corresponding to the inclined surface of the projection 88 of the slidable arm 8f3. The size and strength of the spring 92 de.

termine when the cutter-bar will release and swing about the hinge lil. Assuming that the cutter-bar does strike an obstruction, a force will be applied to the hook 85 of the slidable arm B4, and if it is sufciently strong it will cause the latch member te and its over-lying hook 39 to yield outwardly overcoming the spring 92, thus permitting the arm 3d to sliderearwardly until such time as the projection 88 strikes the guide bracket V8l.

The mower frame structure, as shown in Figure 2, is provided with retractable legs 93 and 94. These two legs with the shoe of the mower 42 provide suitable support for the frame, when the mower is detached from the tractor, whereby it stands in a relatively level position without other support.

The tractor on which the mower is mounted may be any one of several types such as the wide tread wheel tractor shown in the drawings. Other tractors have relatively narrower spacing between the rear traction wheels, and as it is desired to have the mower adaptable to all types and sizes of tractors, the longitudinal beams 22 and 2S of the mower frame are spaced only as far apart as the spacing between the traction wheels of the narrowest tractor. However, with the tractor shown, the wheel spread is much greater than the spacing between the frame beams 22 and 2S, and it has been necessary to provide a plate 95 which is rigidly mounted on the housing t and depends therefrom in a manner similar to that of the depending axle housing l5. Projecting threaded bolt studs t5, S1, and Q5 are positioned on the depending plate 35 and correspond in position to the slots 3Q, 3d, and 29 in the brackets 3l and 2l of the main mower frame. Similar bolt studs are provided on the depending axle housing l5 and are shown at 99, l 05, and lill in Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the mower and frame are standing in a level position on their legs 93, 94, and the mower shoe t2.

In order that the mower shoe will not collapse when it is being used as a third supporting leg, a lock is provided to prevent the mower from swinging upwardly about its hinge. The lock is in the form of a hinged arm lill which has a bent-over portion adapted to hold down a standard H2 xed on the tubular member 'lll during the period of mounting the mower on the tractor, as shown in Figure 3. An arm H3 is welded to the plate-like extension E5 at il the purpose of supporting the hinged arm liti. The stationary arm l le is provided with a square socket lli which is adapted to receive a squared projection i it on a pin l Il supporting the hinged arm |15. A spring H3 superposes the pin lll and is retained by a washer H9 and a cotter pin |2ll. When the mower is mounted on the tractor this arm lill is `kept in its vertical position acout the hinge pin lil. However, when the mower is removed from the tractor and it is necessary that the mower stand on its own supports, the arm Il@ is pulled outwardly away from the stationary arm i i3 until such time as the square project-Eon llt is released from the square socket |55 and the arm is free to be rotated. The arm l Il! is swung rearwardly to the position as shown in Figure 3, and it is locked in this position by the square projections again entering the socket l l5. It will be evident that in such a position the mower is prevented from raising about its hinges, and as a result thereof it is prevented from collansing.

The tractor is backed into a position wherein the rear wheels and the supporting bolt studs are in a position such as shown in Figure 3. The most difficult problem of getting the implement mounted on a tractor is the raising of the implement to its operating position onthe tractor. It is, of course, possible to use an ordinary jack and eiTect a raising of the frame parts until they are at a height in line with the supporting studs or brackets used as the means of attaching. In the present device, this tedious job of raising the irnplement into position on the tractor has been eliminated. The cammed hook is provided with a relatively high extending curved finger 52 which forms the outline for a wide-mouthed opening U93 in the member 35. As previously stated. the member 35 rotates with the crossshaft 33 as does the bail member 3d. As best shown in Figure 4, a lever in the form of a rod Eil/l is inserted between the shaft 33 and the bail member so that a lifting of the lever Ille will eiect a rotation of theshaft and likewise a rotation, of the hook member 35. The upwardly extending finger |52 is adapted to encircle the bolt stud Q3. As the shaft 33 is further rotated, the nger il?? causes a lifting of the mower frame H25 until the bolt stud 98 reaches the innermost end l or the wide-mouthed slot |53. Figure l shows the main frame of the mower i035 being lifted by means of the rotating hook 35. Figure 5 shows the completely mounted position of the mower on the tractor wherein the studs 95, Sl, and Sit engage the slots 39, 3B, and 29. In such position the nuts on the bolt studs are tightened thus holding the mower in fixed position on the tractor. The end of the slot |56 is the same distance from the rotating shaft 33 as is the slot 29 so that when the hook member 35 is completely rotated, the slots 29 and Ill@ are coincident, as they are shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. Figure 5 also shows the upward retraction of the leg 93 along the main frame beam 23. Figure 6 shows a sectional view through the mower attaching means and more distinctly shows the arrangement of the bolt studs 98 and 91 along with their tapered nuts `lill and |08. The hook member 35 is shown over the bolt stud 98 as well as the bracket 21.

It will be evident that herein is provided an implement which is quickly attachable to a tractor upon the exertion of a minimum effort by an operator. The hook 35 and its raising iinger |02 are duplicated on the other side of the frame by the hook 3E and its upwardly extending curved finger mi! so that when the lever ed causes rotation of the shaft 33, both nngers H52 and me reach up and grip the bolt studs Se and ||J| respectively. It is, of course, possible that modifications rnay be developed which would also be readily operable and adaptable to commercial use, and with that in mind it is intended only to limit the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an implement and carrying frame unit of the type in which the implement is separably associated with the carrying frame for attachment thereto and detachment therefrom and in which the implement has an attachment part positionable to receive a complementary attachment part on the carrying frame and wherein the attachment parts are movable relative to each other to eiect attachment and detachment of the implement and carryingframe: means for eiecting attachment and detachment of said parts. comprising a hook roclrable on an axis on the implement part independently of said` implement part and a hook-receiving member on the carrying frame.v the hook having a cam Surface engageahle with the member and so related to the hook axis as to move the parts relatively when rocked to attach the implement part to the carrying frame.

2. In an implement and carrying frame unit of the type in which the implement is separably associated with the carrying frame attachment thereto and detachment therefrom and in which the imp-lement has an attachment part positionable to receive a complementary attachment part on the carrying frame and wherein the attachment parts are movable relative to each other to effect attachment and detachment oi the implement and carrying frame: means for effecting attachment and detachment of said parts, comprising a hook rochable on an axis on the implement part independently of said implement part and a hoch-receiving member on the carrying hooi; hacam surface y to the hook axi to move the parts relatively when rocked to attach the implement part to the carrying frame, and means for rocking the hoolr to engage and disengage the hook-receiving member.

3. In an implement and carrying frame unit of the type in which the implement is separably 7 associated with the @artrite free-1e ,fer attache ment theeete enel detachment therefrom en@ in which the implement has attachment. part. inestimable to receive a Complementary attache ment part on the carrying frame and wherein the attachment parts are movable relative to each other to effect attachment and detachment of the implement and carrying frame: means for effecting attachment and detachment of said parts,

comprising a pair of members, one connected to associated withthe ca ryingV frame ier attachment thereto eetl eetae vent thelefrem and in which the imp-lenient has attachment part positionable'to receive a complementary attchment/part on the carrying and wherein the attachment parts are movable relative to cach other to effect attachment and detachment of the implement and carrying-frame; means for effecting attachment and detachment of said parts, comprising a first member roclbly carried by the implement part, a second in, d,er on the carrying frame part, means on the `fi` t member providing a cam surface cooperable, when the first member is roel-red, with the second member to ride over the second member for moving the carrying frame part and implement parts relatively.

V5. In an implement and carrying frame unit of the type in which the implement is connectible l:

to and separable from the carrying frame by means including a part on the implement carried by a complementary part on the carrying frame when the carrying frame and implement are con-V nected and wherein the implement when sepa? rated from the carrying frame is supported on the ground with its implement part at a height below that of the carrying frame part: means for effecting connection and separation of the carrying frame and implement via the aforesaid parts, comprising a first connecting element on the carrying frame part, a second connectingy element on the implement part and movable with respect thereto and with respect to the first element and including a portion extending to a height corresponding to that of the first element, means including said portion and forming generally a cam surface engageable with the rst clement havinganother portion disposed at a ,dife ferent height, and means for moving the second element with respect to the rst element and iniplement part whereby said portions successively engage the first `element and move the implement part vertically relative to the carrying frame part engageable with the tractor part for raising the carrying frame implement .part with respect to the tractor part.

6. In an implement and carrying frame unit of the type in which the implement is connectible to and separable from the carrying frame by means including a part on the implement carried by a complementary part on the carrying fr ame when the carrying frame and implement are connected and wherein the implement when separated from the carrying frame is supported on the ground with its implement part at a height difterent from that of the carrying frame part: means for effecting connection and separation of the carrying frame and implement via the aforesaid parts, comprising a first connecting element on the carrying frame part, a second connecting element on the implement part and movable with respect thereto and with respect to the rst ele,- ment and including a portion extending to a height corresponding to that of the first element, means including said portion and forming generally a cam surface engageable with the rst element having another portion disposed at a different height, and means for moving the second element with respect to the rst element and implement part whereby said portions successively engage the first element and move the im.- plement part vertically relative to the carrying frame part.

7. In an implement and carrying frame unit of the type in which the implement is connectible to and separable from the carrying frame by means including a part on the implement carried by a complementary part on the carrying frame when the carrying frame and implement are connected and wherein the implement when separated from the carrying frame is supported on the ground with its implement part below and rearwardly of the carrying frame part: a vertical plate on the implement having a pair of vertically spaced, forward-opening notches means on the carrying frame part including a pair of projecting elements spaced vertically apart to correspond to the notches but disposed at higher levels than the notches; and means for connecting the carrying frame part and implement parts via said plate and projecting elements including a inember rockable on the plate and having a cam portion engageaole with the carrying frame part, said cam portion having such configuration as to draw the plate upwardly and forwardly so that the notches receive the projecting elements.V

8. The invention set forth in claim '7, in which: the cam portion is engageable with one pf the projecting elements.

9. In an implement and carrying frame unit of the type in which the implement is connectible to and separable from the carrying frame by means including a part on the implement carried by a complementary part on the carrying frame when the carrying frame and implement are connected and wherein the implement when separated from the carrying frame is supported on the ground with its implement part at a height different from that of the carrying frame part; means for effecting connection and separation of the carrying frame and implement via the aforesaid parts comprising a first pair of conmeeting elements on the .Carrying frame eert, e Second pair 0f Connecting .elements 011 the link element part and movable with respect thereto and with respect to the iirst pair of elements and including niet portions extending t0 e height corresponding te that @i the first' reir of elements, means including said first portions and forming generally cam Vsurfaces engageable with the first pair of elements having second portions disposed at a different height, and means for moving the second elements with respect to the first pair of elements and implement part simultaneously whereby said first and second portions successively engage the rst elements and move the implement part vertically relative to the carrying frame part, nsaid means including a member connected between the second elements;

10. In an implement and carrying frame unit of the type in which the implement is connectible to and separable from the carrying frame by means including a part on the implement carried by a complementary part on the carrying frame when the carrying frame and implement are connected and wherein the implement when separated from the carrying frame is supported on the ground with its implement part at a height different from that of the carrying frame part; means for effecting connection and separation of the carrying frame and implement via the aforesaid parts, comprising a rst pair of connecting elements on the carrying frame part, a second pair of connecting elements on the implement part and rockable with respect thereto and with respect to the rst pair of elements and including first portions extending to a height correspending to that of the first pair of elements, means including said first portions and forming generally cam surfaces engageable with the first pair of elements having second portions disposed at a diierent height, and means for simultaneously rocking the second elements with respect to the rst pair of elements and implement part whereby said first and second portions successively engage the rst elements and move the im- 10 plement part vertically relative to the carrying frame part, said means including a rock-shaft connected between the second elements.

11. The invention set forth in claim 10, in which: the rock-shaft includes socket means at one end thereof constructed and arranged to receive a lever o1' the like for rocking the rockshaft.

REX B. HITCHCOCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,943,284 Binan Jan. 16, 1934 2,129,435 Morris Sept. 6, 1938 2,187,981 Martin Jan. 21, 1940 2,252,691 Arndt Aug. 19, 1941 2,259,892 Hyman Oct. 21, 1941 2,259,893 Hyman Oct. 21, 1941 2,347,871 Andrews et a1. May 2, 1944 2,368,290 Donald Jan. 30, 1945 2,376,539 Hitchcock et a1. May 22, 1945 2,376,541 Johnson et a1 May 22, 1945 

